West Virginia Democrat. [volume] (Charles Town, W. Va.) 1885-1890, 1887-05-06

GEN. MlLEOl. hCDphOh, "oSN'S'
came to Front Royal. AT this point, and be-
tween him and Banks at Strasburg, lay
Col. Kenly, with l, 400 Federal troops. u
jackson could annihilate this force the COZ
nection between the armies of Banks and Nj
Dowell would be broken.
Accordingly, May 23 he made a fierce ~
tack on Col. Kenly's little band at Front
Royal and cut it to pieces. This was the
third battle of the Shenandoah campaign.
There was nothing now between Stone ewall
Jackson and Banks
Banks retreated with his small force yet
farther north. He left Strasburg and started
fCy Winchester.
II was now q race and chase between
Banlis and Jackson TO the Potomac IL Jack
son paused till the forces of Fremont or Nc
Powell could come up, lie would be cut to
pieces. Ho therefore determined to push on,
surround Banks if possible and destroy his
army before il could be REINFORCED. He pur-
saed Banks hotly, and once mora the old town
cf Winchester became the scene of fight.
che fourth in the campaign. Banks kept back
for several hours the advancing Confederates.
This was May "a and p. But the southern
soldiers poured in in larger and larger num-
bers. There was nothing but to run for it.
From Winchester Banks retreated to
!Martinsburg. He only waited here two
hours, when he was up and away again. AT
sunset. May o. Banks reached the Potomac
river at Williamsiort.
To Get on the Maryland side of the river
was the next thing. The broken army had
retreated in confusion, leaving great quanti-
ties of stores behind them Jackson had lit
erally driven them into the Potomac. into
the river they plunged The ferry took across
the ammunition train, the cavalry swan
their horses, the wagon trains crossed by the
ford and the infantry were conveyed over by
means of pontoon bridge, which had been
brought down the valley from the upper
Shenandoah.
At last the remnant of Gen. Banks broken
army was all across, just in time, for at that
moment Jackson appeared opposite on the
Virginia side of the Potomac.
"Never were more grateful hearts in the
same number of men than when at midday
on the 26th we stood on the opposite shore"
said Gen. Banks afterward.
Gen. Banks was so deeply chagrined at his
forced retreat that he is said to have she'd
tears over it, He declared that he had been
sacrificed by his government that had
stripped him of Shields division and then left
him TO meet Stoncwall Jackson with les; than
n third the number of the Confederate
troops.
On Nav 81 Jackson rested one day AMI had
religious service performed in camp, III which
he gave thanks to Col for the victory OF the
southern arms. He had marched from his
- 7 Jo,- Iiufa
of sixty miles, and had fought two battles on
the way.
May 24 there was a panic in Washington
when it became known that Banks was re-
t,eating to the Potomac with Jackson after
Tin full tilt Jackson's Shenandoah cam
paign probably prevented the capture OF
Richmond by Mcclellan in the summer OF
1862 Mcdowell was at Fredericksburg with
10000 men under orders to cooperate with
and finally join Mcclellan before Richmond.
The defeat of Milroy and the chase Of Banks
down the Shenandoah shattered at one stroke
the plans in front of Richmond. President
Lincoln telegraphed Mcdowell May "A to put
10000 men in motion for the Shenandoah
valley at once. Mcdowell obeyed reluctantly
He wrote the president: Il have a heavy
heart in the matte: feel that il throws US
all back, and from Richmond north we shall
have al our large masses paralyzed."
Jackson had driven Banks down and out OF
the Shenandoah valley and marched his army
almost into the very teeth of Washington
But the now thoroughly aroused Union armies
were undoubtedly ws12A
! ! 3 ! !
marching upon EINsENcA
him. McDowelis EzS TASNSM
force from the east, al S6A
Fremont's from the SAj
west How should N(S
he get out and back 6S~
up the Shenandoah ~ &f~
valley! he had ac- eAvs&4